Wire line swivel



Patented Nov. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,098,512; wma LINE swlvE'L l Felix L. Pivoto, Liberty, Tex. Application November 4v, 1935,- seriai No. 48,201

(ci. c55-25) 3 Claims.

The invention relates to a swivel of the type used in supporting a s tring of pipe during the drilling of wells by the rotary method and is particularly directed to a swivel through which a wire line may be passed, if desired, and` which may also be closed in order that fluid pressure may be applied to the pipe supported by the swivel.

In well drilling operations by the rotary methlo od where a string of pipe is turned by the rotary mechanism it is necessary to support the string of pipe and to apply uid pressurethereto in order to maintain a circulation of the drilling fluid during the drilling operation. Various types of equipment have now been devised which may be lowered through the drill to obtain .samples of the formation and for various other purposes, and it is the practice to lower` these instruments by means of a cable or wire line. It is desirable, of course, to lower such in- 0 stmments through the driu pipeV without disconnecting the swivel which supports the pipe `and the present invention has -been devised with a view of providing a swivel which is convenient for such an operation. y

. It is one of the objects of the invention to provide a swivel having a passage therethrough which may be closed if desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a swivel having a combination fluid and implement passage therethrough.

Another object of the invention'is to provide a swivel head with a. closure cap which may be used to completely close the top of the swivel.

"Another object of the invention is to provide a swivel cap which is arranged to accommodate a wire line so that various implements may be raised or lowered through the drill pipe and swivel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a swivel through which various instruments may be lowered Into the well bore without removing the swivel from its connection with the drill'pipe.

Other and further objects of the invention will be readily apparent when the following descrip- .tion is considered in connection with the accompanylng drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a swivel showing the wire line passing through the swivel while the swivel is connected to the string of pipe in the well.

Figure 2 is a side elevation at right angles to the view of Figure 1 and showingthe top of the swivel closed with a plug so that iiuid pressure' stem in order j may be applied when no 'wire line is passing through the swivel.

'Ihe drill stem by which the bit or other equipment is rotated is indicated generally at 2 and is provided with an upstanding threaded box 3. 5 'I'his box is arranged to receive a threaded pin member which may be the swivel or the next v section -of pipe. In Figure 1 the pin member 4 pipe. The swivel `which ts into the passage II passing through the lower end I2 of the housing 6. This sleeve I0 is sealed against leakage from the passage II by means of the packing I4, which is held in place by a gland I5 nearthe lower edge of the sleeve I0. The side windows IB betweenthe arms or brackets 'l permit access to the gland I5 so that it may be adjusted to form a proper seal. A lock ring I5 is arranged to hold the gland in any set position.

This sleeve or spindle IU carries near its upper 2* end an outstanding ange I8 which is received within a chamber I9 in the top 8 of the swivel: While a single iiange I8 on the spindle II) is shown in Fig. 1, it is obvious that any suitable number of such iianges may be provided to receive the thrust between the spindle I0 and the body 8. Positioned above and below this flange I8 are the anti-friction bearings 20 so there will be relatively little friction upon the rotation of the housing with respect to they spindle. A cap 2I holds' the bearings and the spindle in place in the tcp of the housing. A grease inlet 2| is provided so that lubricantcan be injected into the bearings 20. When the drill stem rotates 40 the housing 5 of the swivel will rotate with it and the spindle I0 will remain stationary because it is connected to the head. 30 which forms partl of the swivel.

The head 30 is specially constructed with a 45 passage 3I therein, the lower portion of which is enlarged and threaded at 32 to receive the upper` end Vr-33 of the spindle or sleeve III. A gooseneck 34 projects from one side of the head 30 and is threaded at 35 to receive the mud line 50 by which fluid is forced through the passage 36 -in the gooseneck and down through the passage II in the spindle to maintain afcirculation of fluid during the drilling operation, it being understood that the pipe 2 is rotated while the iiuid 55 'is being circulated. In order to suspend the pipe,

swivel and support the pipe 2 by slips in the rotary table or in any other desired manner. When the swivel was disconnected, however, Acirculation could not be maintained. In the present swivel attention is directed to the fact that the passage 3| extends upwardly above the branch passage 3'8` and is threaded at 40 to receive a plug 4 i. This 42. These two halves will then be-bolted together by bolts passing through the opening 43 therein and the threaded lower end 44 thereof can then be screwed into the threaded portion `4i! in the head 30. If a tight seal is. desired, the packing 45 may be compressed by the gland 46 so that a complete seal may be maintained about the wire line 42. If, however, the wire line is to be moved up and down, thegland 46 will not be tightened but movement of the line 42 will be permitted.

This is desirable when a tool is being raised or' lowered in the drill stem.

When the drilling operation is to be resumed and there is no wire line passing into'the drill pipe, then the plug 50 shown in Figure 2 will be inserted in the threads 40 of the head 30. A suitable handle i is provided to turn this plug into position. In-this manner the upper end of the passage 3| is completely closed and any desired fluidi., pressure may be exerted on the inside of the drill pipe.

Broadly the present invention contemplates a modification of Athe present swivel so that it will be adapted to receive awire line with a very slight alteration such as removing the plug 50 and inserting the wire line l2 having the plug 4i .positioned thereon so that the rotatlon ofthe pipe,

the circulation of drilling fluid or the manipulation of the wire line tools may be carried on either independently or simultaneously if desired.

What is claimed is: 1. A swivel for use in well drilling operations to support the drill pipe and adapted to accommo 1aoeams date wire line operated tools therein comprising .a body, a spindle therein, bearings supporting said body on said spindle, means to support said spindle, a vertical passage through said spindle, a head thereon having a passage in alignment with said spindle passage and a plug normally closing said passage but removable for the insertion and removal of tools through said swivel which are manipulated by a wire line passing through said swivel.

2. A rotary swivelincluding a body having a central bore, said body having a chamber within -an enlarged portion adjacent its upper end, an

enlargement in said bore below said chamber, a cup within said body above the enlargement thereon, a spindle having a flange within said cup.' packing about said spindle within the enlarged bore, a gland about said spindle above said packing, an opening in the wall of4 said enlargement to admit a tool for said gland and to permit egress of fluid leaking past said gland, a nut threadably secured in the cup about said spindle, thrust bearings between the flange and the cup and nut, respectively, a support head xed to said spindle including ears to suspend said swivel, a gooseneck extending laterally from said head, a passage through said spindle and support head, the passage through said gooseneck leading into said spindle passage, and a wire line passing through said swivel and having a plug thereon to close the i30 top of said head, said plug comprising half sections fixed about the wireline.

3. A swivel for use in well drilling operations to support a drill pipe and adapted to accommodate wireline operated tools therein comprising having a central bore and a chamber within an enlarged portion thereof, an enlargement in said bore below said chamber, a cup within said body above said chamber, a spindle extending into said bore and having a flange within said cup, packing enlarged bore, an opening in the wall of the enlargement to admit a tool for said gland, a nut threadably secured in the c'up about said spindle, thrust bearings between the flange and the cup and nut respectively, a supporting head rigidly secured to said spindle and having a passage in alignment with` the spindle passage, and a plug normally closing said passage but removable for insertion and removal through said swivel of the tools which are manipulated by a wire line passing through said swivel. f v FELIX L. PIVOTO.

8. body and a gland therefor about said spindle within the 

